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smitfraud c and adware popups

wishnias

Posted 31 July 2005 - 07:38 PM

wishnias

New Member

Member

3 posts

I have run cleanup, adaware, cwshredder, spybot s&d, and stinger antivirus and got rid of a lot of garbage running on my pc, but there is one persistent bug running around somewhere. After running spybot, it tells me that it cannot remove Smitfraud-C, and once in a while a yellow blinking triangle with an exclamation point appears in my taskbar by the clock "informing" me that my computer is infected with spyware. Clicking on it sends me to adware removal software sites like spyware sheriff and a couple other shady looking sites. I am also getting other random popups also "informing" me of problems, these are clearly advertisements for adware/spyware removal tools and I have not followed their links.

wishnias

Posted 31 July 2005 - 08:53 PM

wishnias

New Member

Topic Starter

Member

3 posts

While trying to install SP1, a message comes up telling me that I have an invalid key for the software, and that my copy of Windows XP may be a pirated copy. I bought this computer from a friend a couple years ago and it already had XP in it, so I never bought the software myself. If it is indeed a pirated copy of XP, is there any way to install a service pack? And if there is no way to install a service pack, then what are my options as far as trying to clean up my system?

If it is pirated, we won't help you. There are a few reasons for this. But the two main ones are:

1. It's pirated, so it's illegal.2. Since you said you can't install SP1, there's basically no point helping you clean it up because you will most likely get reinfected again very soon.

So if this is indeed a pirated copy, my suggestion is to go out and get the legal copy of XP. Install that instead. If you still have problems in the future, you may come back here and we will be glad to assist you.

Posted 01 August 2005 - 07:16 PM

I never got any documentation from the guy I bought my system from, so I have no windows product key. The validation assistant site never asked me for a key, it just showed me the quote posted above. I guess it is an illegal copy, and I understand that I am vulnerable to infections. Using the software recommended on geekstogo I was able to get rid of a lot of garbage that was running on my pc, and I appreciate the help I have received...guess I'll just wait until I get a new computer or dig up the $300 or whatever it costs for a new copy of the os.